Wisdom of Nuggets

Here’s info on the two films we have at the Nugget this week, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 and Clint Eastwood’s acclaimed CHANGELING. Opening Friday, Nov 28 will be Paul Rudd’s edgy film ROLE MODELS and HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 will stay thru the weekend too.

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HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3
runs Fri, Nov 21 thru Sun, Nov 30

Cast: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, many others
Director: Kenny Ortega
Screenplay: Peter Barsocchini
Length: 1:52
Rated: G
Subtitles: none

What’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 about?  With college coming up fast, high school seniors Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) begin to realize that they might soon be separated when they head off to different schools. To express their experiences, dreams and concerns for the future, the Wildcats senior class stages an elaborate spring musical. Joining Troy and Gabriella on stage are their friends Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale), Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) and Chad (Corbin Bleu). Directed by Kenny Ortega. With Monique Coleman and Olesya Rulin.

Who’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 for? Kids and families who like comedy, drama, family films, musicals, romance.

What critics are saying about HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3:

“What did I think of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3? Storyline, PG-13 humor and extreme political correctness aside, I was knocked out and thought the songs and dance numbers were terrific. I left the movie theater thinking: say what you will about the US of A, nowhere else in the world will you find such astonishing all-round talent, energy, and optimism. And if it does all seem like a clone of parts 1 and 2, so what? I`ll probably be buying the CD.” Geraldine Blecker at Weltexpress.info

“If you’ve not caught the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL bug, there’s no better way than to see High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Director / choreographer Kenny Ortega way, way, way outdoes himself in this third incarnation and sequel to the original “it’s cool to be in musical theatre productions” Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. No doubt the series can officially be declared a world wide phenomenon spawning an entire cottage industry around local musical productions, the ice show circuit, and the lunchbox / twin bed sheet logo merchandise. The cool think about the phenomenon is that it has launched a movement to get kids up and dancing and involved in the arts—which given the way-over-emphasis on sports in our culture, this is a very, very positive thing.” Scooter Thompson at Movieeveryday.com

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CHANGLING
runs Fri, Nov 21 thru Wed, Nov 26

Cast: Angelina Jolie, John Mackovich, Colm Feore, Denis O’Hare and Jeffrey Donovan.
Director: Clint Eastwood
Screenplay: J. Michael Straczynski
Length: 2:21
Rated: Rated R for some violent and disturbing content, and language.
Subtitles: none

What’s CHANGELING about? In 1920s Los Angeles, Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), a single mother and telephone operator, returns home from work to discover that her son Walter (Gattlin Griffith) is missing. After an unsuccessful five-month search, police eventually return a boy to her who claims to be he son. When Christine refuses to accept the lie, the police brand her as a delusional, unfit mother. With nowhere left to turn, Christine gets a helping hand from Reverend Gustav Briegleb (John Malkovich), who is determined to confront city authorities and expose the corruption in the LAPD.

Who’s CHANGELING for? Fans of Angelina Jolie, Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich, well written dramas, period films, great photography.

What critics are saying about CHANGLING:

“As these cases develop, helped by strong performances by little-seen actors like Jason Butler Harner, they form a relentless pincers movement whose prongs move forward with an awful fatalism. In other hands, these clashes of good and evil might have seemed ordinary, but Eastwood makes CHANGELING a hard story to shake off. To see this film is to understand both how fragile and how essential our hopes for decency and truth are in a world that must be made to care about either one.” Kenneth Turan at the LA Times

“‘CHANGELING maintains Eastwood’s creative streak. It might not be as exalted as MILLION DOLLAR BABY, but there are things about it that set it apart and make it one of the most enjoyable of his recent films. It’s a woman’s story, which is a departure for Eastwood. (Even MILLION DOLLAR BABY was about a woman as seen through the eyes of a man.) And because the story has no built-in aura of significance - because it’s simply a sad account of something that happened to somebody long ago - Eastwood’s abilities stand out in sharper relief. The history doesn’t make the movie important. Rather, Eastwood makes the history important.” Mick LaSalle at SFgate.com